100 Days Without You (COMPLETED)

4. Krist

Krist

'Kids, come on," Krist laughs, grabbing Pluto from the couch and lifting him into the air, lion king style. "Where's Daddy's phone?"

But the cat doesn't reply, just gives him a condescending look and starts sniffing the air. Sure enough, his second fur baby soon rushes towards them and Krist starts to laugh at the sight.

Muffin has toilet paper wrapped all around her body, a piece hanging from her mouth and is trailing a whole roll behind her.

He has got to get a picture of this. Muffin fans will think it's the cutest!

"Oh my baby girl," he coos as he shoves his hand around the couch trying to find his phone. He laughs as she sticks her little nose in the air as though she's modelling new clothes, not a loo roll. Beside him, Pluto is taking an interest, wiggling his bottom as though he might pounce.

Krist looks away as he doubles his efforts. He does not want to miss this photo op, and Pluto will surely ruin it if he's not quick.

But as he finally finds his phone, down the side of the cushion where Pluto was sitting, his heart stops and all thoughts of a photo rush out of his head.

It's opened on his Line. To one chat specifically.

He quickly scans the screen and groans at the sight.

Six f*cking missed calls.

That damned cat!

They were all about 10 seconds apart, like Pluto had been batting at the phone repeatedly. And who could fault the Sphinx when he had let him play that stupid game on his iPad.

But couldn't his beloved little man have chosen someone else to call?

At least it was on Line and not on his Phi's actual American number that he wasn't supposed to have. He didn't want him to know how he'd had to beg Mae Yui to get it from P'Jane for him. It wouldn't help.

But it was comforting to have it in his phone.

Krist groaned as he stared at the screen. There was nothing else on it. He'd deleted their entire nine years of conversation with a flick of his finger in his anger. And staring at it now, only the missed calls showing, it broke his heart a little more. How could he have been so stupid?

He sank down onto the sofa, gripping the phone like a lifeline.

What should he do?

He could send a message. Apologise and blame Pluto. But that would be the very first thing he would have said to his Phi in two months and it seems like a weak excuse even if it is true.

He's still deciding, when P'Jane's name flashes on the screen. Krist blinks. Sure, they were still talking, but it wasn't a regular thing and probably not late at night on a Tuesday when he didn't have a schedule.

He swipes. Then regrets it almost immediately.

"Are you okay? Why's Singto calling me to ask about missed calls from you, Krist?" Jane asks without preamble.

Krist sucks in a breath.

"Oh." Jane continues. "I see. Well... I mean, do you want to talk about it?"

Krist shakes his head, then realises P'Jane can't see him.

"No." His voice is small and sad.

"Right. But.. I mean.. you haven't. Talked about it? With him? With anyone?" Jane asks.

"Umm.." Krist says, wanting the conversation to just be over now. "It was Pluto. He was playing with my phone, like that fish game on my iPad."

"Okay." Jane says, accepting his reply as true. "I'll let him know."

Krist nods.

"He misses you, you know? He doesn't say it. But he really, really does. You should call him sometime, Krist. For real."

Krist nods again and Jane seems to understand that he's not going to talk.

"Well, stay in touch with me. I'll see you on Thursday for that thing with Petch, okay?"

"Sure."

Jane hangs up.

Krist breaks down.

He's still red eyed when he wakes up the next day, clutching his couch pillow, Pluto in a small ball beside him, Muffin glaring at him from her bed at the other side of the room.

Singto trained her well, Krist thinks, then gasps back a fresh sob at the memory.

It's not getting any easier. He has to admit that to himself. And maybe it won't. Singto might have given up on them, but he's still entrenched in every little part of Krist's life. And he always will be.

Because Krist is still in love.